This tactical analysis will provide a scout report on Manchester City player, Lauren Hemp. Using both data & video analysis, the tactics of Manchester City and the roles and responsibilities that Lauren Hemp has within the team will be identified, specifically when Manchester City are in possession of the ball. Positive attributes and contributions of attacking on dribble/running with the ball, crossing and finally the number of touches inside the box will be discussed and analyzed in further detail.
Lauren Hemp is a 19-year-old forward/wide midfielder who joined Manchester City from Bristol City in 2018. During the same year, Hemp was awarded the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year award. Hemp has represented the England women’s national team, making her debut on 8 October 2019 in a friendly vs. Portugal. She participated in the most recent England squad during the ‘She Believes Cup’, held March 2020, appearing in two games vs. USA and Spain.
Tactical approach of Manchester City WFC
Manchester City are currently in first place of the FAWSL with 40 points, 1 point ahead of second place Chelsea. Formerly coached by Nick Cushing, who left to become the assistant coach of New York City FC in February of 2020, City are currently (as of April 2020) under the stewardship of interim head coach Alan Mahon.
Manchester City have more recently implemented a 1-4-4-2 system (52.9%), with variations including 1-4-4-1-1 (16.8%) and 1-4-1-4-1 (14.5%). City bring a very balanced attack, focusing 32% via the left-hand side, 33% through the centre and 34% on the right.
Due to injuries within the squad, Janine Beckie and Georgia Stanway have been utilized as wide right defenders, moving away from their more familiar roles as wide forward and central attacking midfielder. As a result, Manchester City have recently tactically executed an asymmetrical structure when attacking in the 1-4-4-2 system. This includes positioning Jill Scott, playing at the wide right position within the midfield four, into a more interior channel position, thus allowing Beckie or Stanway space to move higher and into the attacking areas from an initially deeper starting position.
In comparison, Demi Stokes the wide left defender plays a deeper positional role and supports underneath the wide left midfielder, Hemp. An example of this can be seen in the average player position and passing map below which is from the Manchester City vs. West Ham Utd FAWSL fixture. Clearly visible is the high positioning of #11 (Beckie), the interior positioning of #8 (Scott), the deeper role of #3 (Demi Stokes) and finally the high and wide positioning of #15 (Hemp). The tactical implications of this approach aim to bring the best out of each of the Manchester City players, utilizing their individual and collective strengths.
Attacking on the dribble
Lauren Hemp ranks 9th when comparing the average number of dribbles per 90 minutes within the FAWSL (5.21, completing 55%). The player with the highest average number of dribbles per 90 minutes is Chloe Kelly of Everton (8.60, completing 48%). Hemp also is ranked 1st in the average number of progressive runs per 90 (3.39). Wyscout has defined a ‘progressive run’ as one which “moves the ball considerably forward”. Minimal requirements to be classified as a progressive run are 30 meters if starting and finishing in own half, 15 meters if starting in own half and finishing in opponent’s half and finally, 10 meters if starting and finishing in the opponent’s half.
Hemps capability to make a high number of progressive runs and dribbles is aided by being able to find space to face forward when receiving possession. She has spatial awareness to be able to both occupy space or if initially marked tightly, create space. This is achieved by a combination of the tactical positional play of Manchester City and her individual movement to lose the direct opponent defending.
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